HISTORIC 



F 







HARE WOOD 




Glass _£^£X_ 
Book.__LL^i- 

Copyright^ — 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



HISTORIC 




MARE WO OD 




PUBLISHED AT PHILADELPHIA BY 

THE WASHINGTON MANOR ASSOCIATION 

FOR THE PURCHASE AND PRESERVATION 

OF HISTORIC HAREWOOD 



HEADQUARTERS 

112 SOUTH FOURTH STREET 

PHILADELPHIA, PENNA. 



COPYRIGHTED 1901 BY 

ED W I N TA i nrAK NAULT Y, 

THE LIBRARY OF 

CONGRESS, 



Two Copies Received 

JUL £9 1901 

Copyright Entry 
2tf, fCfof 



class a xxc. n«. 

COPY B. 









$^ 









HISTORIC 
HAREWOOD 



OF PLEASANT MEMORY AND 
PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION 



^"he best way to see Historic Harewood is as the writer saw 
^ it, one lovely spring day. It lies on the Smithfield Pike, 
three miles from Charles Town, West Virginia, and eleven 
miles west of Harper's Ferry, the scene of John Brown's 
exploit. The land on which Harewood stands has succes- 
sively been in Frederick, Berkeley and Jefferson counties, 
Virginia, but it is now in West Virginia, as during the Civil 
War period Jefferson county was taken from Virginia and 
added to West Virginia. 

The manor house of Harewood was built under the super- 
intendence of General George Washington by his brother, 
Colonel Samuel Washington, on a tract of land owned by the 
General and his brothers, Colonel Samuel, John and Charles 
Washington, in 1752-56. It is constructed of blue-gray lime- 
stone quarried from the famous ledge that runs through the 
estate, and it is quaintly recorded that one Shirley Smith, 
who hauled the stone for the building was paid for his work 
" an acre of ground per team per day." 

Two miles and a half from Charles Town the pike sweeps 
up a knoll, and from the top of this knoll you get your first 
view of Harewood. "Harewood of pleasant memory and 
patriotic association," as an old chronicler lovingly ex- 
pressed it. 

3 




HAREWOOD FROM THE KNOLL. 



From the field by the road the view of Harewood is entranc- 
ing. There stands the manor house in all its gentle dignity. 
It appears to be in an atmosphere of another day and time; 
Beautv, peace and content seem to crown it, and one can 
almost see the gay cavalcades winding their way in Colonial 
times to the welcome of its portals. In the foreground is the 
great outcrop of limestone about which graze a flock of sheep. 

Back to the road and our horses again,- a short canter 
brings us to the present gate. This is a quaint Virginia idea. 
You ride up a-horse and pull down on the rope hanging from 
the wooden arm : the gate swings over and through the post, 
and in you go. Once inside and clear of the gate you pull 
the rope again and the gate swings shut. Quaint, but effect- 
ive in a country where nearly every one rides horse back. 




THE MAPLE DRIVE. 

Part way down the maple drive we halt for a moment to 
get our first close view of Harewood. 

To the left stands the manor house, with its dear old gar- 
den beyond. To the right is the old office, built of the same 
material as the house. Just beyond the small gate in the 
background is the place of sepulcher where lie the bodies of 
Colonel Samuel Washington, his wives, and descendants. 

A little further and we stand in front of Harewood. Except 
that the porch has been rebuilt the house is to-day as it was 
when first completed. Its walls are two feet thick and would 
withstand an assault by artillery The heavy shutters, gray 
green with age, and of a tone that no paint could equal, were 
made by honest workmen under the careful eye of Washing- 
ton, and thev did their work well. 




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PRESENT FRONT OF HAREWOOD. 

Down the drive fifty feet and we get the west view, this 
time showing the kitchen building. Its great chimney has 
roared to the merry tune of many a well chosen feast. In 
other days a number of great honey locust trees curtained the 
house from view on this side. Although now used as the 
front, this was the back of the house in Washington's day. 

Directly back of where we are, facing the Manor, is the old 
stone office building where was attended to all the work of 
supervision of the Harewood estate. 

Let us go around the north end and stand for a moment to 
get a view of the old front of the house. Here again the old 
porches have been replaced with modern ones, but the capi- 
tals and balustrades are stiil extant, and the original porches 
will be duplicated and restored when the property is acquired. 




HAREWOOD FROM THE WEST. 




OLD FRONT OF HAREWOOD. 

7 




STAIRWAY AT HAREWOOD. 



Once inside the house the grand stairway compels admira- 
tion. It is very like the one at Mount Vernon, only broader 
and easier to mount. Martha Washington said it was the 
easiest staircase to climb she ever knew. On the wv lis are 
shown portraits of Colonel Samuel Washington, who died in 
1781, and his son George Steptoe Washington, who at seven- 
teen married Lucy Payne, sister of Dolly Madison, who was 
two years his junior. George Steptoe Washington succeeded 
to Harewood on the death of his eldest brother Ferdinand, 
under the guardianship of General Washington, and lived 
there with his bride when hither came James Madison and 
the charming Widow Todd from Philadelphia to be married. 

Here also just out of our view hang the portraits of Anne 
Steptoe, the second wife of Colonel Samuel Washington, and 
the portrait of Lucy Payne Washington, the winsome sister of 
Dolly Madison, who, after the death of George Steptoe 
Washington, married Judge Todd, of Kentucky. 

Over the door hangs the armorial bearings of the Wash- 
ington family. This shows all the quarterings and gives the 
heraldic history of the Washington arms. Of course you 
know that the Stars and Stripes were suggested by the 
armorial coat of Washington. His colors were scarlet, white 
and gold, and the main colors were adopted as those of the 
United States. It was a pretty bit of sentiment when it was 
done ; it proves even more graceful when the flag of the 
nation that Washington founded waves its glorious hues over 
half the earth's surface. 

There is much similarity between the balustrades here and 
those at Mount Vernon, and it is assumed that General 
Washington, when he enlarged Mount Vernon, got the wood- 
work from the same firm who supplied the fittings for Hare- 
wood. On the ceiling may still be seen the watered silk 
patterned paper which is said to be the original paper. 

We catch a glimpse of the parlor, let us enter. 




10 



:ed a » 



Here is the parlor of Harewood, and a stately old Colonial 
chamber it is. First let us tell of its construction and then of 
its romantic historical associations. It is panelled, as you see, 
in hand wrought hard wood, which still bears its original coat 
of white paint, so well was it laid. The floor is of two inch, 
sun seasoned, white pine and fits as snugly as the top of a 
sideboard. Joiners were conscientious when Virginia was a 
colony. The pillars and panels and base and upper work 
were brought from England to Alexandria in ship, thence by 
road and cart to Harewood 

y^The mantel over the fireplace was given to General Wash- 
ington by Marquis de Lafayette as a token of his esteem and 
Washington placed it in the parlor of Harewood. In transit 
the top marble slab was broken, so some clever artificer was 
employed to make one like it of wood. This was painted a 
mottled black to imitate the marble and put in place, 
almost as solid as the stone below. 

A curious fact about this fireplace is that the great heat 
from many a rousing fire on the hearth below has warped 
downward the marble of the mantel over the opening. The 
height of the mantel may be judged from the life-size portrait 
of Colonel Samuel Washington over it. So admirably pro- 
portioned is the room it does not strike you as being as large 
as it really is — a triumph in a way. 

In this parlor were wed James Madison, afterwards twice 
elected president of the United States, and the winsome widow 
Dolly Payne Todd. George Steptoe Washington, who then 
owned Harewood, and his wife, born Lucy Payne, whose 
picture you see over the door in the parlor, were in Philadel- 
phia visiting President and Martha Washington in 1794 when 
the first lady of the land found out from the demure little 
Quaker widow that she had given her heart to the "great 
little Madison." Of course Martha told the President and he 
told his nephew, who told his wife, Dolly's sister, and nothing 



1 1 



would do her but the Madisons must come to Harewood to be 
married. And they did, making the journey in Thomas Jeffer- 
son's coach. This is how the story is told by Dolly Madison's 
grand niece in her " Memoirs and Letters of Dolly Madison." 

44 In 1792, Lucy Payne, a younger sister of Mrs. Madison, 
married at fifteen George Steptoe Washington, nephew of 
General Washington, and then a resident of Berkeley 
County, Virginia, where he owned a large and valuable 
property, inherited (through his brother Ferdinand) from 
his father Samuel Washington, a gay fox hunting squire 
who thought much of his wives, of whom he had five, and 
his horses and dogs. On the walls of Haiewood, his 
portrait still hangs, in powdered wig, long coat and 'ace 
ruffles and by it the likeness of one of his wives, also repre- 
sented in the elaborate dress of the day, with cushioned hair 
and blue brocade. Here it was that Mr. Madison came to 
wed the pretty "Widow Todd." In September 1794, Mrs. 
Todd left Philadelphia to drive to Harewood in Virginia where 
the wedding was to take place. Fortunately the weather was 
bright and beautiful as the gay cavalcade were a week on 
their way : Mrs. Todd in an open barouche, accompanied by 
her sister Anna, a child of twelve years, the little boy (Payne 
Todd) and a maid ; Mr. Madison and several of their mutual 
friends driving or riding beside them. 

" A most delightful picture is given of the country wedding, 
friends and neighbors from far and near driving over. Francis 
Madison, Harriet Washington, and many of the connection 
staving for days, keeping up a prolonged merry making. 

" The girls, vying with each other in obtaining mementoes 
of the evening cut in bits the Mechlin lace from Mr. Madison's 
shirt ruffles, and amid a shower of rice, the laughing bride 
and groom drove off to Montpeliier, his father's estate in 
Orange County, Virginia." 

But the Madisons were not the only distinguished folk who 



came to Harevvood, Part of every year from the time the 
house was built, except during the War for Independence, 
came General Washington. Tradition asserts that he built 
Harewood for his own home but having come into possession 
of Mount Vernon used that estate as his Winter residence. 
Certain it is that General and Martha Washington came here 
often, and, his brother Samuel dying in 1781, the General 
assumed charge of his yourtg children, George Steptoe Wash- 
ington and Lawrence Augustine Washington, overlooked 
their education at school and college, and, as the guardian of 
Ferdinand and of George Steptoe Washington was in charge 
of Harewood from 178 1 until 1796, including the time when 
the Madisons were married there. 

Family history, correspondence of General Washington 
and court and county records prove his connection and life at 
Harewood. It was the retreat where he came to be with his 
brothers Samuel, John and Charles, the latter two of whom 
also lived nearby, and to see his nephews and nieces of whom 
he was very fond. 

At Harewood were sheltered Louis Philippe, afterwards 
King of France, and his two brothers the Duke de Montpen- 
sier and the Count de Beaujolais, and their steadfast servitor 
Boudouin during their exile from their native land. The 
young son of Lafayette was also entertained here. 

Many a pretty maid, stately matron and gallant gentleman 
of Virginia has rejoiced in the hospitality of the Washing- 
tons at Harewood. A list of their names would be a list of 
all the famous F. F. Vs. 

One more incident before we leave the parlor. It was out 
of the window shown in the illustration that Dolly Madison 
peeped to see "Light Horse Harry Lee" come dashing up 
to attend her wedding " on the finest horse in all Virginia." 

It would be delightful to tell of the many who found happy 
days at Harewood, but to do so would require a more ambi- 
tious effort than this, so we will continue our viewing. 

13 





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DINING-ROOM OF HAREWOOD. 

Here is the dining-room. On the fire-place end it is 
panelled to the ceiling, on the other sides, only part way. 
Notice the deep windows and the quaint old hinges on the 
right hand door. Here was spread many a great banquet in 
the days of olden time. The honest pleasures of the table 
ever appealed to your true Virginian. It was a dull time when 
the house was not filled with welcome guests, and farm, 
garden, woods and stream were well levied on for their 
entertainment. 

Here General Washington and his brother, Colonel Samuel, 
have often sat down to a hunt breakfast with friends and 
neighbors before mounting to ride across country for miles 
and when the hunt was over have galloped back to the 
board to toast the belles of the Colony in wine made from 
the grapes of the Harewood vineyard. 



14 




MADISON BRIDAL CHAMBER. 

Here is the Madison bridal chamber. The old paper has 
recently been stripped from the walls and so they appear dis- 
colored. It is not that the plastering is loose, far from 
it. Only a small hole here and there shows the wear of fif- 
teen decades. Look at that floor, see how the boards match. 
Walk across it and it is like walking on a stone flagging. 
Note the simple grace of the mantel and the deep window 
seat. 

Here let it be explained that all these photographs were 
taken without the accessories of furniture. It is very easy 
with a well placed chair, an antique bureau or a sofa of the 
olden time to get effects, but it is our desire to show the house 
for what it is, and we have not called to our aid what the 
photographer terms " props." 



*5 




[6 



From the window of the room over the porch opens up this 
splendid view. Of this scene Thomas Jefferson said : " It is 
worth crossing the Atlantic to see." The photograph was 
taken in the early spring before the trets had put on their 
garb of green, and so some of its beauty is lost. But there 
is enough. 

Below is the garden, which we shall presently see closer to, 
and crossing the vista runs the Smithfield pike. Before the 
pike was built the pond was thrice its present size, and on its 
waters has been shot many a toothsome duck for the Wash- 
ington larder. Straight across the background runs the 
famous Blue Ridge of Virginia. It is always an entrancing 
sight whether seen at dawn, when it is as deep blue as violet, 
or at eventide, when the fading light turn its tone into a 
bewitching purple. 

The break in the Ridge is Harper's Ferry Gap, where meet 
the streams of the Potomac, "Water of the Wild Swans," 
and the Shenandoah, " Dancing Daughter of the Stars," as 
the Indians called these two historic streams. Within this 
view is the land of three states — West Virginia in the fore- 
ground; Maryland Heights to the left of Harper's Ferry Gap, 
in Maryland ; Loudoun Heights, to the right, in old 
Virginia. 

To the right of the copse of trees, crowning the rise in the 
pike, lies Charles Town, laid out on the land of General 
Washington's brother Charles, and named after him. It was 
here in Charles Town that John Brown was hanged. Dur- 
ing the Civil War Federal and Confederate troups bivouaced 
time and again on Harewood ground. Stonewall Jackson's 
signal corps were camped on the lawn near the house, while 
again two thousand Federal troops pitched their tents on the 
field by the pond. This is the region made famous by Sher- 
idan's Ride and — 

" Winchester is only twentv miles away 



17 




BOX HEDGE IN THE GARDEN. 

Here is a bit of the garden, and before us lies the box hedge 
said to have been planted by Martha Washington. It is the 
same species as that at Mount Vernon and is a fitting frame 
for this pretty spot. The roses of Harewood are famous the 
country round. They are still there in the garden and in 
June are a delight to the senses. Many a rare plant blooms 
in this terraced bower of beauty. Among them a green rose, 
probably the only one in the country. Rare plants came 
from every corner of the globe to General Washington, some 
went to Mount Vernon, others found a home at Harewood. 

The lilac hedge is in bloom, we shall get a good view of it 
presently. Down through the path between the box hedges 
we go. We stop for a moment and take a deep breath. 

The lilacs ! How delicious their perfume ! Ever after the 
scent of lilacs will recall Harewood. 




VIEW OF HAREWOOD FROM THE GARDEN. 

Just a glance back at the house before we cross the vege- 
table garden to look at the lilac hedge. 

Isn't it a stately old manor? Its open doors present the 
very address of hospitality. Through the wide hall and the 
door beyond we catch a glimpse of blue sky and white fleecy 
cloud. It is like a dainty water color. Dimly through the 
trees to the left we can see the kitchen building and the smoke 
lifting lazily from its stone chimney. An appetizing odor 
suggests that the housekeeper is preparing a good dinner at 
mid-day after the hearty old fashion of Virginia. 

But you forget dinner over the beauties of Harewood, so on 
we go across the ploughed land, and between two grass 
grown summer house cairns we get a full view of the lilac 
hedge. 



i<) 




THE FAMOUS LILAC HEDGE IN FULL BLOOM. 

Can you imagine a prettier scene? Your own eyes will tell 
you a better tale than any words however skillful their use. 
This is the hedge which is said to have been planted by Dolly 
Madison. It extends straight across the lower terrace of the 
flower garden and divides it from the vegetable patch, and in 
full blossom is one of the most beautiful hedges in Virginia. 

About fifty feet back of where we stand once stood an 
octagonal summer house which was known as the "study." 
It was a favorite retreat with Washington men, and here 
they were wont to retire with long pipes and some favorite 
book, while the afternoon sun lighted up the long glass 
windows which reached from roof to floor. The Civil War 
swept it away. Impatient soldiers levied on it for fuel. 

Let us stroll to the south toward the old slave quarters. 
Only one of the buildings is left and that is the overseer's house. 

It looks like a painting by some world famous artist, but it 
is a faithful photograph — untouched in any way. You almost 
expect to hear the strain of some touching old time negro 
melody come floating out from the old cabin. 



20 




THE OLD OVERSEER'S CABIN. 



Further on we come to the sweet spring which has supplied 
the house for many years with water, bubbling clear and 
limpid from the limestone. 

To the lime impregnated water ot this valley it is probable 
that General Washington owed much of his great size and 
strength. You will recall that he surveyed nearly every rod of 
this valley for Lord Fairfax and others, and that only a rifle 
shot from here he took up his first land in the Valley of the 
Shenandoah. He came here first in 1747, and for three years 
carried his surveying instruments over the dales and knolls. 
His enthusiastic reports induced his brother Laurence Wash- 
ington to buy heavily of land, and the land afterwards came 
into the ownership of George, Samuel, Charles and John 
Washington in 1752, on the death of Laurence. 




OLD SPRING AT HAREWOOD. 

Opposite is a pretty scene. It is an outcrop of the limestone 
ledge that runs through the property. It is a beautiful bit 
of nature, but the utilitarian cannot help but figure on the 
value of the limestone as building material. It is almost 
without flaw and of a soft gray blue. An ideal building 
stone. Speculators have offered Mr. John Augustine Wash- 
ington a very good price for the right to quarry the stone but 
he will not deface the old place and has refused many high 




LIMESTONE LEDGE AT HAREWOOD. 



23 



tenders. Not many of us would decline to consider a quarry 
if we owned 150,000 tons of building stone, when an inferior 
stone is readily sold at two dollars per cubic foot dressed. 
Under these circumstances it will be seen that the price of 
$[30,000 for the estate, of 263 acres, manor house, outbuild- 
ings, and all, is not a high one. Mount Vernon sold for $1,000 
an acre, and the United States Government paid the Lees 
$150,000 for Arlington, even after it had been confiscated as a 
measure of the Civil War. 

Just below us is a weeping willow tree. Are you aware 
that all the weeping willows in the country are descended 
from a slip sent to Martha Washington? They are. This is 
one that came from an older one planted in the last century. 
Again a pretty view. You cannot turn at Harewood without 
resting your eyes on some charming bit of scenerv. 




OLD WILLOW TREES AT HAREWOOD. 
24 




VALE OF HAREWOOD. 

Here is the Vale of Harewood through which courses 
Evetts Run. What a picture it is. The lens which reproduces 
only the form can give no idea of the beauty of color and 
form combined. See the cattle peacefully grazing, the water 
winding through fertile meadows ; the trees, the rolling land, 
the snow white chariots of clouds driving across a sky as 
soft as that of Naples, and ever and always the mystic 
Blue Ridge in the distance. 

In the hurry and strain of the Twentieth Century we miss 
many of the beauties of nature, but those wise men who 
founded this nation in the Eighteenth knew where to place 
their Lares and Penates. 

The writer has seen many beautiful places at home and 
abroad, but of all the places that have gladdened his eves 
Harewood is the most picturesque and the most beautiful. 



25 




VALE OF HAREWOOD, LOOKING WEST. 

Here is a view looking the other way. Beyond the dam, 
water cress is cultivated in the clear water and it is cress and 
not weeds that you see on the surface. 

Beauty, beauty everywhere, until your soul is gladdened and 
your heart is happy, and over all is the historical association 
that would make interesting a barren barn, but which, added 
to the natural enchantment of the place, makes Harewood a 
paradise. 

Just below the Manor of Harewood stands the ivy covered 
ruin of St. George's Chapel, one of the oldest churches in 
Virginia. It was built in 1747, the year that Laurence Wash- 
ington laid the foundation of the Washington estate in the 
Shenandoah Valley. Although only antedating Harewood 
by a few years nothing is left of the chapel but the ruined 



26 



walls. This church was the first building in the Valley to be 
constructed of the native limestone and it thought that it may 
have given the hint to Washington to use the same material 
for Harewood. 

Years ago there were many graves in this quiet churchyard, 
marked by headstones and marble but to-day most of them 
have leveled out and only a few unmarked, pathetic mounds 
show where the " forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 

The Washingtons often came here to worship, and it is 
said that General Washington was a constant attendant 
during the years when, as a young man, he lived in the 
Valley of the Shenandoah and surveyed its fields and farms. 




OLD CHURCH NEAR HAREWOOD. 
Built in 1747, this Chapel, now a ruin, was the first Episcopal Church 
in the Valley of the Shenandoah. 



27 



This brief history of Harewood has been published with 
the specific intent of arousing your interest in the purchase 
and preservation of this old homestead of the Washingtons, 
and your contribution is solicited. There are three classes of 
members. 

First:— Founders, who contribute five hundred dollars, or 
more, to whom will be given the Harewood Gold Medal, 
bearing upon one side the medallion portraits of General and 
Colonel Washington and on the other, a representation of 
Harewood similar to that on the title page, and whose names 
will be placed upon a bronze tablet at Harewood. 

Second:— Special contributing members, contributing from 
twenty-five to one hundred dollars, who will be given a 
similar medal cast from a cannon used in the Revolutionary 
War. 

Third: — Ordinary contributing members who contribute one 
dollar and to whom will be issued the Harewood certificate of 
membership. This is a beautiful work of art fit to be treas- 
ured with care. It is printed on heavy bond paper and bears 
the medallion of General and Colonel Washington, the 
Washington coat of arms in colors, the seal of the Washing- 
ton Manor Association and the signatures in fac-simile of the 
distinguished men who compose the Board of Regents. 

Contributors of over one dollar should remit invariably by 
check, making it payable to the Washington Manor Associa- 
tion. Those sending one dollar may do so by check, postal 
order, express money order, bill or stamps, whichever is the 
most convenient. When money or stamps are sent the letter 
should be registered, and all letters should be addressed to 

Edwin Fairfax Naulty, Secretary, 

WASHINGTON MANOR ASSOCIATION, 

112 South Fourth Street, 

Philadelphia, Pa, 

28 



We feel assured that you will aid us in this patriotic under- 
taking. Americans are realizing more and more each year 
the duty of preserving the ancient landmarks of our early 
history. Poignant regret has been caused by the demolition 
of other historic houses in the East. When these old places 
are allowed to fall to ruin they are lost. They may be 
restored but the original is gone and can never be replaced. 

From a casual visitor years ago, the pilgrims who visit 
Mount Vernon have increased to many thousands yearly, 
while those who come to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 
number hundreds of thousands. 

The influence exerted toward good citizenship and a love of 
countrv by a trip to such an historic spot as Harewood cannot 
be calculated. Its educational value upon the young is certain. 
It helps to keep us in touch with the high ideals of an elder 
day and brings the romance and the beauty of Colonial and 
Revolutionary life before our eyes as can no spoken or printed 
word. No one can go to such a place as Harewood and 
walk through its stately chambers and about its beautiful 
grounds without becoming a better man or woman. 

By contributing according to your means and your desire, 
you will perform a service to the present generation and to 
generations yet to come. If you can afford it, become one of 
the Founders and have your name placed in immortal bronze on 
the walls of Harewood. If you cannot do this give what you 
can. Even if it is only a dollar, it is a dollar toward a worthy 
object and a dollar well spent. As an artistic production the 
Harewood cetificate is worth that amount. It is not a cheap 
affair. It is done in the very best manner and is a splendid 
example of the American typographical art. You need not 
blush to place it beside your best engraving— it will not suffer 
by the comparison. 

If there is any further information you wish it is yours for 
the asking. 

29 




COLONEL SAMUEL WASHINGTON 

PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING IN THE HALL OF HAREWOOD 




ON THE ROAD TO HAREWOOD. 



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014 440 441 5 




